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The unemployment rate in Switzerland fell to 3.2 percent in March from 3.4 percent in the previous month, according to government statistics released on Tuesday that suggest the Swiss economy is continuing to defy the economic doldrums in Europe.

The jobless level remained higher than in March 2012 when the rate was 2.9 percent, and above the average rates of 2.9 percent for 2012 and 2.8 percent for 2011, the state secretariat for the economy (Seco) said.

The number of registered job seekers in the country dropped to 194,224 people last month, 6,271 fewer than in February, Seco said.

The number of vacant posts in March remained virtually unchanged from the previous month at 16,022.

The unemployment rate either dropped or remained the same in all cantons of the country in March when compared to the previous month, according to the Seco figures.

Geneva recorded the highest rate of 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent, while Obwald and Nidwald recorded the lowest in the country at one percent.

The rate was unchanged from the previous month in Obwald and down from 1.1 percent in Nidwald.

In the canton of Zurich, the country’s biggest job market, the jobless rate fell to 3.2 from 3.3 percent.

Valais recorded the biggest drop in unemployment in percentage terms, falling to 4.2 percent from 4.9 percent, followed by Ticino (4.6 percent, down from 5.1 percent).

Among other cantons, the rate fell to five percent in Vaud from 5.3 percent, while Neuchâtel dropped to 5.2 percent from 5.4 percent, Basel-City declined to 3.9 percent from four percent and Bern dipped to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent.